Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/200

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belong to the society called the Coalbrooke-Dale Company, the lesser ones are private speculations. One of the chief proprietors, Mr. Reynolds, is the land-owner ;of this romantic spot; who, possessing as much liberality as taste, has preserved in a great measure its picturesque beauties, and laid them open to the enjoyment of the public. This he has ef- fected by conducting two walks in the most judi- cious manner over the brow of the vast amphi- theatrical hill that rises above the vale of the Severn, and commands the opposite banks, and a long reach of subjacent country. The first of these conducts to a plain Doric temple, through a thick shade, occasionally opening and disclosing the rocky banks on the other side of the dale; from Avhose bosom the ascending smoke, curling up in vast volumes from the founderies that, are unseen, suggests the idea of the mist arising from the agi- tation of a cataract; a notion strengthened by the incessant din of the volcanic operations below. Returning along this path, we crossed the road to the second, which is led along the narrow ridge of an eminence agreeably planted with evergreens, which shut out the immense lime-stone pits to the left-hand, and interrupt the sight of a deep precipice to the right. This walk terminates with .< rotunda, a most classical building, placed at the

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